SAME BUT DIFFERENT (SEN FRAMEWORK)

This is an extract from myAutumn Term 2018/19 'SEN Update' entitled: “I’VE GOT A BONE TO PICK WITH YOU...”​​that was released on 14th September 2018.

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Things always feel more positive at the start of a new academic year, don’t they? You feel more refreshed after a break and also feel more focused again.We should feel the same this year, knowing that we now have managed to get through the first 4 years of the new SEN framework, which was brought into effect in September 2014 with the Children and Families Act 2014 and the new SEND Code of Practice (which was updated again in 2015).In the second section of this Update, I want to tell you about some practical changes that have come into force/are coming into force at the SEND Tribunal, which may help people (both personally and professionally, but I want to take a moment in this first section to just reflect on SEN things.Many people tell me that, after having been involved in special educational needs issues for many years, that it still feels the same, but they know that it is different now. What I think they mean is that, although there appear to be changes around the edges, the main SEN framework appears the same as before, as it still really concentrates on education, even though Statements of SEN have been replaced by Education, Health, & Care (EHC) Plans.Although I do understand where they are coming from, I beg to differ because there is more of a drive now towards looking at the whole needs of a child or young person with SEN (theoretically), including their health and care needs. You may know that for many years I have been at pains to state that the education/health/care system is a huge entity and that any changes take a long while to filter down. I also like to point out that there is a need for a cultural change, which can take a long while as well. A good analogy that I use about this is to say that it is like trying to turn a large ship. You cannot do it immediately when you want to change direction - it takes a long while for a ship to turn around, unlike when you are in a small boat which can change direction quickly.So please don’t feel downhearted because things may have not gone smoothly. New things need time to settle down. Now that the transitions of Statements to EHC plans and the whole SEN framework has had time to bed in, I am hopeful that, even though it has been 4 years in the making, we should now see things moving forward positively.​I am also at pains to point out that people do not do things wrong deliberately or maliciously, but usually because they have made a mistake or do not know what to do.

​As ever, I encourage people to always try to give other people the benefit of the doubt.

With best wishes

Douglas

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